Part 31 (2/2)

Suddenly, fro of pots and pans

Both women jumped to their feet

”There is someone out there!” cried one of the woht before her she moved softly toward the door At the same moment Chester realized Hal's ruse and cried:

”Look out, Hal!”

CHAPTER XXII

AT BAY IN THE Pass

When Hal, after creeping into the house through a , had inadvertently bu them to the floor with a clatter, he drew his revolver and stood stockstill He heard Chester's cry of warning, and, realizing that an ene, he drew a bead upon the doorway

An ar; there was a flash of fire and a bullet sped past him He fired quickly in return, and the weapon of his unseen enemy dropped to the floor with a crash, followed by a shrill scream of pain

”Great Scott, a woman!” cried Hal and leaped forward

But the wo that she was uninjured, as Hal came toward her, she leaped forward and threw her ar the lad's hand that held his revolver to his side

At the same moment she cried out to her companion:

”Quick! Pick up the revolver and shoot hirave danger and struggled fiercely to free his hands But his adversary was a very powerful woained a secure hold, Hal was unable to free hiuard Chester, at the co to the back of the chair, drew hi to his broken sword

As the woman stooped to pick up the revolver dropped by the other when Hal's bullet had struck her hand, Chester, in spite of the pain of his wounds, leaped forward As she arose to her feet and would have fired point-blank at Hal, he knocked the weapon from her hand with a sharp blow of his broken sword

Then co quickly to Hal's side he took the lad's revolver fro back, aigling

”Release hilanced at hily

”You wouldn't shoot a woman,” she sneered

”I wouldn't like to,” replied Chester, ”but if you have not released hiainst that ith your hands in the air by the time I count three, I will shoot, just as surely as I stand here One, two----”

The wolanced at him Her eyes must have told her that the ladHal, she stepped quickly back and raised her hands in the air The second woman followed her example Chester stepped to Hal's side, and extended the revolver to him

”Take this quick!” he commanded

Hal did so, and without another word, Chester suddenly crumpled up in a heap on the floor He had fainted

Still covering the women with his revolver, Hal knelt by his friend's side Then he turned to the woman